Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1130365
Fountain Valley: Educators at Impasse The Fountain Valley Education Association (FVEA) is at impasse with the Fountain Valley Unified School District (FVUSD), with mediation to come. FVEA is fighting for a permanent investment in educators with an ongoing salary increase, while the district has only offered a one-time bonus. FVEA says that with a 27 percent reserve, FVUSD can afford to do more for the dedicated Foun- tain Valley educators. Teachers are fired up and standing united for their students, schools and each other, organizing more than 200 members and about 50 parents to attend a board meeting in support of fair pay and investment in the classroom. Parents delivered 14 compelling and heartfelt speeches during the standing- room-only board meeting. Santa Ana: Educators Ink New Contract Members of the Santa Ana Educators Association (SAEA) will get a 2 percent wage increase next year after completion of bargaining this spring. SAEA also secured language regarding the district's extended-day kindergarten program, and prevented any increases to educators' health care costs. The district will cover any additional costs starting next year. Savanna: Teachers Head to Mediation The Savanna District Teachers Association (SDTA) in Ana- heim is at impasse, with mediation scheduled in May. Teachers want compensation that will help attract and retain future teach- ers. SDTA is also fighting for benefits that do not erode salaries through monthly deductions. Currently, Savanna teachers pay the highest out-of-pocket costs of their neighboring districts, leaving them as much as $10,000 behind their nearby peers. The current 1 percent on and 1 percent off-schedule offer does not even meet the county aver- age or current cost-of-living adjustment. While organizing for a fair increase that recognizes their value and respects them as professionals, SDTA has been wearing black every Tuesday and buttons with the message: "SDTA Is Stronger Together." FVEA President Abir Kim Mt. Diablo: At impasse The Mt. Diablo Education Association and Mt. Diablo Unified School District in Contra Costa County filed a joint declaration of impasse on June 3. Among the issues in negotiations are adequate numbers of nurses, counselors and librarians, smaller class sizes, and support for bilingual programs. "We have been trying to resolve these issues since our contract expired in July 2018," says MDEA president Anita Johnson. "The district remains intransigent and refuses to make reasonable changes that will benefit the students of this community, so we are declaring impasse and moving this process to the next level." The next step is for a mediator appointed by the Public Employment Relations Board to try to bring both parties to a satisfactory resolution. 44 cta.org Advocacy